Sustainability is one of the major factors potential homebuyers consider when deciding to buy a house in Sonoma County. According to the 2018 National Association of Realtors Sustainability Resource Guide, 61% of surveyed realtors said their clients want more sustainable features in homes. This includes features that can help them save money on energy and water costs while reducing their carbon footprints.
Your property’s exterior is one of the first things people notice about it. To make your house stand out, turn your yard into a sustainable, calming oasis.
Here are some examples of how a landscape construction company near you can transform an ordinary yard into a sustainable, eco-friendly garden.
Install a Permeable Paver Patio
Many experts estimate that more than 50% of water used for landscape irrigation is wasted due to wind, runoff, or evaporation. A permeable paver patio can help you save water in your landscape. Permeable paver patios are designed with spaces between them that allow water between to drain naturally. Water saved by your permeable paver patio will nourish your plants.
Since rainwater flows back into the ground, a permeable paver patio can help reduce storm water runoff. This, in turn, helps reduce the amount of chemicals from fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides used in landscaping that gets into the nearest water bodies.
A landscape construction company near you can help you choose the right permeable paver patio for your lawn and will also install it.
Use LED Landscape Lighting
Not only do incandescent lights use a lot of energy to produce light, but they also emit a lot of heat. Though the upfront cost of incandescent lights is less than LED lights, they may be more expensive to operate and less energy efficient in the long run.
LED lights are a cost-effective alternative to their incandescent counterparts. They are more efficient than incandescent lights and use less wattage to produce the same amount of energy as incandescent bulbs.
They do not produce infrared radiation and remain cool to the touch. LED lights can help cut energy use by up to 80% while also outlasting incandescent bulbs.
Switch to a Smart Irrigation System
Many homeowners overwater their lawns. When you overwater your lawn, you not only waste water, but the amount of toxic chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides present in runoff water dramatically increases. Many homeowners overwater their grass which can clog the pores of grass blades, leaving no space for oxygen to enter and actually kill your lawn.
A smart irrigation system can help address these issues. Smart irrigation systems are designed to analyze the local weather conditions and automatically adjust the amount of water to be distributed to plants. A smart irrigation system can help an average household save up to 8,800 gallons of water every year.
At Sweetwater Landscape, we have decades of experience designing landscapes straight out of our clients’ dreams. We will create a sustainable low-maintenance landscape, so you spend more time appreciating its beauty and less time maintaining it. To learn more, call (707) 887-0140.
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